FanPost

My Top 50 2015 Houston Astros Prospects

Since the losing seasons began, I have done my best to follow the farm system as much as possible. I really enjoy prospect rankings and decided to take a crack at my own. The beauty of these lists is that everyone has a different opinion and I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts below. Here is my list:

1. Carlos Correa (SS) Age 20 - Simply put - a premium talent at a premium position. One of, if not the best prospect in the game.

2. Mark Appel (SP) Age 23 - The HiA ball struggles are well known. But AA and AFL performances make me think he'll reach the bigs in 2015.

3. Mike Foltynewicz (SP/RP) Age 23 - A flamethrower who might get a crack at the rotation in 2015. I expect him to make at least a few major league starts this year.

4. Domingo Santana (OF) Age 22 - A rough big league debut in 2014 but don't be fooled - he should hit for a moderate average and high OBP in addition to his power. But prepare for strikeouts.

5. Lance McCullers (SP/RP) Age 21 - The flamethrower was considered a top 15 talent in the 2012 draft. I look for him to rebound in AA after Lancaster got the best of his ERA

6. Josh Hader (SP) Age 20 - I'm higher on him than most. But just look at those stats in Lancaster! W/L, ERA, BAA, K, and WHIP all were outstanding. I love the Sale comparison but he'll need to keep up his velocity later into his starts.

7. Rio Ruiz (3B) Age 21 - A rough AFL performance for Rio, but he's got power potential and a keen eye at the plate which should serve him well.

8. Colin Moran (3B) Age 22 - Plenty of hits but not a lot of power that would be expected from a corner infielder. I expect we might see him in Houston in 2015

9. Teoscar Hernandez (OF) Age 21 - This toolsy prospect had a very nice year at HiA and AA in 2014, but I fear he is about to run into the log jam of OF'ers in the upper minors and Majors in this organization. He is the type of prospect who can break through.

10. Derek Fisher (OF) Age 21 - More of a 4 tool player due to his arm but he is a very intriguing prospect with power, average, and speed.

11. Vince Velasquez (SP) Age 22 - Injuries have been a big part of the story of Vince's professional career. He has a really nice repetoire and I look for him to split 2015 between Corpus and Fresno.

12. Michael Feliz (SP) Age 21 - Protected from the Rule 5 draft at the last minute because of his power arm. We'll see how he handles "The Hanger".

13. A.J. Reed (1B) Age 21 - A better prospect than I think many give him credit for. He should hit for power and average. Don't forget he has an power arm as well.

14. Brett Phillips (OF) Age 20 - The breakout prospect of 2014 for the Astros. If he can repeat the power numbers, he is a true 5 tool talent.

15. Tony Kemp (2B/OF) Age 23 - The term sparkplug applies to Tony. And the Jose Altuve comparisons aren't off base. Look for him in AA and AAA this season.

16. Preston Tucker (OF) Age 24 - Lunhow wants him to be another Allen Craig. Morgan Ensberg raves about his hitting ability. We'll see him in Houston in 2015.

17. J.D. Davis (3B) Age 21 - Another two way player selected as a hitter by the Astros in 2014. He got off to a very nice offensive start to his professional career.

18. Max Stassi (C) Age 23 - He's made cameos in each of the past two seasons for Houston. We've heard about the ability to handle a staff and pitch framing. Power seems to be his best offensive tool.

19. Nolan Fontana (SS/2B) Age 23 - Do you like walks? Nolan Fontana does. He seemingly always has a high OBP no matter his batting average. It is going to be interesting to see what happens position wise as Correa is the heir apparent at SS.

20. Kyle Smith (SP) Age 22 - He got off to a quick start in HiA before cooling off a bit in AA. He doesn't have the power stuff but seems to be a gamer.

21. Tommy Shirley (SP/RP) Age 26 - The pitching prospect of the year in the Astros organization for 2014. I expect at least a cameo in Houston in 2015.

22. Andrew Aplin (OF) Age 23 - Another intriguing OF'er who had a solid 2014. He's knocking on the door to Houston and should at the least be a September callup in 2015.

23. Danry Vasquez (OF) Age 20 - Still young and very raw. Seems to be a projectable prospect, although the tools haven't progressed as expected.

24. Conrad Gregor (1B) Age 22 - He broke out a bit in 2014. A 1B prospect who wasn't expected to have a ton of power crushed in Lancaster. He struggled a bit in AA so I look for him to continue to progress in Corpus this year.

25. Joe Sclafani (UTIL) Age 24 - Another prospect who broke out in 2014. He had an extremely productive stint in AAA hitting .339 and hit .370 in the AFL. He should be a nice utility player in Houston at some point this year.

26. Luis Cruz (SP/RP) Age 24 - The southpaw enjoyed a very nice year in Corpus this past year, but struggled a bit in a brief stint in AAA. Expect for him to start in Fresno and potentially vie for a bullpen spot in the bigs late this year.

27. Asher Wojciechowski (SP) Age 26 - Injuries in 2014 delayed what likely would have been a MLB debut for Wojo. If he can fully recover, expect to see him sometime in 2015 in Houston.

28. Andrew Thurman (SP) Age 23 - A rougher 2014 following a nice professional beginning in 2013. We'll see how he handles Lancaster.

29. Dan Mengden (SP) Age 21 - A 2014 draftee out of Texas A&M. With only 11 innings thrown in pro ball thus far, it will be interesting to see how he progresses, potentially in Quad Cities, this upcoming year.

30. Kent Emanuel (SP) Age 22 - A relatively soft-tossing lefty drafted out of UNC in 2013. Nobody likes to pitch in Lancaster, and Emmanuel will likely benefit from a bump to Corpus.

31. Ronnie Torreyes (2B/SS) Age 22 - A small middle infielder who enjoyed a solid 2014 in OKC. He appears to be a strong candidate to be a utility player in the MLB before long as evidenced by Lunhow protecting him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.

32. Matt Duffy (3B) Age 25 - He'll turn 26 in February but he has hit essentially at every stop in the Houston organization. Next stop: Houston sometime in 2015? It's a possibility.

33. Joe Musgrove (SP/RP) Age 22 - A projectable righty who finally enjoyed a nice season in 2014. I look for him to make this 33rd ranking look stupid in 2015.

34. Jason Martin (OF) Age 19 - An 8th rounder in 2013, speed is Martin's calling card. He has plenty of time to figure out professional ball.

35. Kevin Comer (SP/RP) Age 22 - He was Houston's 9th best prospect following 2012 according to MLB.com. Considered raw but talented.

36. Chris Lee (SP/RP) Age 22 - He pitched pretty well in Quad Cities this past year. If he can handle Lancaster, the Astros might be looking for even bigger things in Lee's future.

37. Derick Velazquez (SP/RP) Age 21 - A big righty who enjoyed a very nice start to his pro campaign after being drafted in 2014. Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs had some nice things to say about him.

38. Tyler Heineman (C) Age 23 - A switch hitting catcher handled the staff in Corpus in 2014. He seems to be in line for a solid, yet unspectacular season in Fresno this upcoming year.

39. Austin Nicely (SP) Age 20 - A 10th round high school signee in 2013, Nicely enjoyed a solid 2014 in Greeneville. The lefty received solid scouting reportsprior to being drafted as a Virginia commit.

40. Roberto Pena (C) Age 22 - If you are in talks to be the first pick in the Rule 5 draft you have to appear on this list somewhere, right? An extremely good defensive catcher who showed some pop in Lancaster this past season.

41. Brady Rodgers (SP) Age 24 - The 3rd round pick in a spectacular 2012 draft by the Astros, Rodgers is a starter who throws a lot of strikes. He has shown some flashes despite some bumpy statistics the past couple of seasons.

42. Jacob Nottingham (C) Age 19 - A young 2013 high school draftee who appears to be an offensive oriented catcher.

43. Aaron West (SP/RP) Age 24 - He has some velocity but the ERA has been rough the past couple of seasons.

44. Ronny Rafael (OF) Age 17 - Signed for $1.5 million this past year out of the Dominican republic. He is said to possess a nice blend of speed and power.

45. Devonte German (SP/RP) Age 20 - The 11th round selection in the 2013 draft by the Astros out of high school. He had a solid 2014 in Greeneville. He'll either spend 2015 in the NYP with the Valley Cats or may be headed to Quad Cities.

46. Bobby Boyd (OF) Age 21 - A short OF'er from West Virginia in the 2014 draft, Boyd hit very well in the NYP league before moving to Quad Cities. A speedster who I see remaining with the RiverBandits this upcoming season.

47. Franklin Perez (SP/RP) Age 17 - The young pitcher signed for $1 million out of Venezuela this past summer. He is 6'4" and appears to possess the potential for power stuff.

48. Miguel Angel Sierra (SS) Age 17 - Another Venezuelan product who signed for $1 million this past summer. Said to have average tools but an advanced feel.

49. Adrian Houser (SP) Age 21 - He was the 2nd round selection after taking George Springer in 2011. It has taken him some time to get going, but he had an OK 2014 season. Look for him in Lancaster next year.

50. Jio Mier (SS) Age 24 - Jio was considered one of the best prospects in the system a few years ago. He was a first round pick in 2009, but the bat hasn't progressed as expected. He is a defensive minded SS who ended 2014 in AAA. Look for him in Fresno again in 2015.